3. What definition of possibility does Dennett give in terms
of accessibility?

Chapter 7

Due Wed. 4/13

Ch.7:

1. What paradox or vicious circle is involved in the
evolution or origin of self-replicating molecules?

2. What is the anthropic principle?

3. How does the principle involve a simple mistake in logic,
according to Dennett.

4. How does Dennett use the illustration of the Game of Life
to undermine the idea, implicit in the anthropic principle,† that God created the laws of physics to
allow the possibility of the origin of life.

5. What is the Library of Einstein? How does Dennett use
this to explain a possible origin of the universe?

6. What answer does Dennett give the question; "Why is
there something rather than nothing?"?

Ch 14,18
Due Wed 4/20

Ch. 14:

1. What is derived intentionality?

2. Explain the point of Dennett's example of the two-bitser?
How does he use it to answer Putnam's Twin Earth argument?

3. What does the example of the two black boxes purport to
show?

4. What is the point of Dennett's example of the time
capsule in section 4? How does he use it to explain how real meaning might
emerge from a meaningless universe?

Ch. 18

1. What does Dennett think should be the fate of religious
faith ?

2. What is Dennett's thesis about whether Darwin's Theory of
evolution robs Life of its meaning?

Chapter 15

Due Fri. 4/22 (based
on readings from 4/18 as well)

What
is the Chinese Room argument?

What
is Dennettís response to it?

What
does Godelís Theorem say?

How
has Godelís theorem been used to argue that the mind could not be an
algorithm?